Calk



0a. 8, 1929. J, COW N 1,730,996

CALK

Filed July 21, 1928 widow (596 a/mim Patented Oct. 8, 1929 UNITED STATESJOHN COWAN, OF WAVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS OALK Application filed July 21,

My present invention relates to calks, and more particularly to callrsintended for use on the tread. surfaces of boots or shoes.

A difficulty with previous calks has been the tendency of said calks,during strenuous exercise, walking, or other actions, to work throughthe tread surface of a boot or shoe, particularly the outsole,permitting the shank of the calk to penetrate through the outsole,filler and insole and cause pain, injury and discomfort to the wearer.

An important object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide aboot or shoe calk which will not work through or penetrate the treadsurface to which it is attached.

I accomplish this desirable result by utilizing, in connection with thecalk proper, a concave or cup-shaped disc or washer, having the concavesurface presented toward the tread surface of the outsole. This disc isof sufficient size and area to present a large bearing surface on theoutsole, for example, thus distributing the weight, wear, and strainover a large area, and minimizing the possibility of the call; wearingthrough or penetrating into the interior of the shoe. I

A further feature of the invention resides in providing means to preventrotation of said washer or disc. This is an important feature,decreasing wear and penetration, and is also particularly important whenthe calks and disc are positioned adj cent to the edge of the outsole.In order to position the call: itself as close as feasible to. theouteredge of the sole, I may form said washer or disc with a straightedge, this straight edge being alined with the outer edge of the sole.hen in this particular location, the means to prevent rotation of thewasher becomes very important.

I accomplish this desirable result by forming, from the metal of thewasher or disc itself, a pair of ears or lugs, preferably pointed, andadapted to be driven into the outsole. These ears, when embedded in theoutsole, will effectually prevent rotation thereof.

Another feature of the present invention resides in constructing, on thecall: proper, a said flange having an annular groove or recess on itsunder surf ca, into which 1928. Serial No. 294,399.

groove the highest portion or peak of said disc or washer will seat.This enables the calk to have a sufficient long gripping or groundpenetrating portion without extending too far from the tread surface ofthe shoe.

My novel calk is easy to attach, has great wearing qualities, andincreases the life of the shoe to which it is attached, because of theadvantages mentioned above.

I believe that the calk illustrated and described herein is novel, and Ihave therefore claimed the same broadly in the present application.

The above and other ob 'ects of the invention, details of construction,combinations of parts and advantages, will be hereinafter more fullypointed out, described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention,

Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of a shoe with a number of my novel calksaiiixed thereto;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View, on an en larged scale, of one of thecalks in its affixed position in a shoe sole;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the calk itself; c

Fig. 4 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the cup shapedwasher or disc;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of the washer ordisc adapted to be located close to the edge of a sole, and having astraight edge therefor, and I Fig. .6 is a cross-sectional view, on anenlarged scale, of a slightly modified form of call: in its aflixedposition in a shoe sole.

Referring now to the drawings, for a par ticular description of theinvention, its construction and application, my novel calks areillustrated as attached or applied to a sole 1. These calks comprise twoseparate portions, viz, a cup-shaped washer or disc, and the calkproper.

Each washer 2 has an aperture 3 there through, through which the shankof the calk is inserted. In order to prevent rotation of the discs 2,after application to a sole,I form a pair of cars or pointed lugs a, 4,thereon. l re disc is applied to the sole, a slight L ming on said discwill. firmly embed said ears in the sole and effectually preventrotation thereof. This is important, as by preventing rotation of thedisc, the injury and damage caused to the sole by rotation thereof areentirely eliminated, thus increasing the life and length of wear of theshoe, and adding to the comfort of the wearer, as rotation of the calkshas been a frequent cause of the callis penetrating completely throughthe sole and injuring the wearer. V

The feature of preventing rotation of the calks is also important whenit is desired to place the calks close to the edge of the sole, asillustrated in Fig. 1. V

Vv hen applied close to the edge of the sole, the edge 9 of the disc orwasher is alined with the edge 10 of the sole and the disc is thenhammered into place. The cars l will penetrate partially into the sole,preventing rotation of the disc as above explained, and thus the discswill not turn, and will never project beyond the edge 10 of the sole.The feature of being enabled to apply my novel calks close to the edgeof the sole will appeal to the wearers thereof, and particularly togolfers or other athletes, who rely on a firm, nonslipping grip of theshoe on the turf or ground. A further feature of the present inventionis that while the discs 2 are of sufficiently large area to accomplishthe purpose desired, they are not sufliciently large to interfere withthe flexibility of the sole. 7 The advantages of this feature areobvious and apparent.

Each of my novel calks comprises a threaded shank 5, adapted to bescrewed into the sole 1, and a squared head 6. This squared head enablesthe calk to be applied with a suitable wrench, and tightly screwed intoposi tion, the threaded shank 5 passing through the aperture 3 in thedisc 2.

At a predetermined location throughout the length of the calk is aflange 7, j referably convex on one side, as at 11, and having, on itsunder surface, an annular groove or recess 8. This groove 8 accommodatesor seats over the peak or highest portion of the cupshaped disc- 2, andthus enables the calk to be inserted further into the sole, and the head6 to be placed nearer the sole, than would otherwise possible, whilestill enabling a head 6 of sufficient length for ground gripping purposes.

The recess 8, also, enables the calk to be screwed down tightly over thediscs 2,a'nd thus to form a strong, serviceable and longwearing article.

In Fig. 6 I have illustrated a slightly modified form of calk, whereinthe cup-shaped disc 12 has a central concavity 13 therein, the convexflange 14 of the calk seating in this concavity and presenting asubstantially flat surface 15 to the ground. The disc has a centralaperture therethrough will be understood and as shown in Fig. 6. Thecalk has a threaded shank 16 for penetrationinto the sole, and has asquared head 17, both the shank and the head being similar to the shankand head 5 and 6 respectively of Figs. 2 and 3.

This form of calk enables the head 17 to be located even closer to theouter surface of the sole 1 than is possible in the form of calkillustrated in Figs. 2 to 4., while still affording ample grip of theshoe upon the turf, sod or ground. The ears 18 are also formed in amanner and for a purpose similar to the ears 4.

The advantages, efiiciency, desirability and wearability of my novelcalk will be instantly apparent to golfers and other wearers of shoeshaving my novel calks applied thereto.

lVhile I have necessarily described my pres ent invention somewhat indetail, it will be appreciated that I may vary the size, shape andarrangement of parts within reasonably wide limits without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

My invention is further described and defined in the form of claims asfollows:

1. A device of the kind described, comprising a concave-convex dischaving an aperture therethrough, a pair of cars formed on the concaveside of said disc and intermediate the edges thereof and adapted topenetrate into a sole to prevent rotation of said disc, a calk having athreaded shank adapted to penetrate through said aperture, and a flangearound said ,calk having an annular groove on its upper surface adjacentto said shank adapted to receive the peak of said disc.

2. A device of the kind described, comprising a cup-shaped disc havingan aperture therethrough, a pair of cars formed on the upper side ofsaid disc and adapted to penetrate into a sole to prevent rotation ofsaid disc, a calk having a threaded shank adapted to penetrate throughsaid aperture, and a liange around said calk, said flange having anannular groove on its upper surface adjacent to said shank adapted toreceive the peak of said cupshaped disc.

3. A device of the kind described, comprising a concavo-conve); dischaving an aperture therethrough, a pair of prongs formed on the concavesurface of said, disc, said prongs being of greater length than thedepth of said concavity and adapted to penetrate into a sole to preventrotation of said disc, a removable calk having a threaded shank adaptedto penetrate through said aperture, and a concave flange on said calk,said flange having an annular groove in said concave surface adjacent tosaid shank adapted to receive the peak of the convex surface of saiddisc, the remainder of the concave surface of said flange lying againsta portion of the convex surface of said disc.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN COWAN.

